Just one person in every 12 — that's how many people will really keep their New Year's resolutions, according to research from the University of Scranton. While many people start with the best of intentions, actually keeping those resolutions beyond January is difficult.
Some of the top resolutions include "being a better person," which ties with losing weight when it comes to 2018 resolutions, according to a poll from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.
Exercising more, eating healthier and getting a better job each garners 9 percent in the Marist poll, while 7 percent want to improve their overall health. About 6 percent of U.S. residents resolving to make a change want to kick the smoking habit, and another 6 percent plan to spend less and save more money. Thirty percent mention another resolution altogether. The remainder were either undecided or didn't plan to make a resolution.
"With weight loss tying for the number-one resolution and exercise and healthy eating making the top five, health is top of mind,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “And, if the past is any indication, many Americans have a good chance at keeping their promises for at least part of 2018.”
How to Keep Your Own Resolutions
So once you've decided on a resolution or two, what's the best way to actually keep it?
A University of Chicago study says to make your resolution a habit first — and doing whatever it takes to kickstart the development of that habit.
In the study, researchers paid students to work out; once those payments stopped, those students continued to work out much more often when compared to students who were never paid.
For some people, that may include betting against yourself — apps like StiKK and DietBet can provide some financial motivation to succeed. Giving yourself little rewards for intermediate goals can keep your motivation up.
A recent New York Times column notes that "sheer willpower" won't get you too far when it comes to keeping resolutions.
What can help is having an attitude of gratitude and developing positive relationships. It also helps to have a "resolution buddy" who can help keep you accountable, no matter what your goal.
Building and maintaining those relationships for mutual accountability can be a huge boost in reaching your personal goals. "But to establish and maintain relationships, people would have had to be fair, honest, generous, diligent and loyal," David DeSteno writes. "They would have had to be perceived as good partners."
So in order to become a better person... it helps to be a better person.
DeSteno writes that empathy, pride in small achievements leading to your goals and counting your blessings can help lead you down that path.
